Now For The Pirates' Lair! Lyrics

D'oyly Carte Opera Company Now For The Pirates' Lair!

RECITATIVE: Now for the pirates' lair!

FREDERIC: Now for the pirates' lair! Oh, joy unbounded!
Oh, sweet relief! Oh, rapture unexampled!
At last I may atone, in some slight measure,
For the repeated acts of theft and pillage
Which, at a sense of duty's stern dictation,
I, circumstance's victim, have been guilty!

(PIRATE KING and RUTH appear at the window, armed.)

KING: Young Frederic! (Covering him with pistol)

FREDERIC: Who calls?

KING: Your late commander!

RUTH: And I, your little Ruth! (Covering him with pistol)

FREDERIC: Oh, mad intruders,
How dare ye face me? Know ye not, oh rash ones,
That I have doomed you to extermination? (KING and RUTH
hold a pistol to each ear)

KING: Have mercy on us! hear us, ere you slaughter!

FREDERIC: I do not think I ought to listen to you.
Yet, mercy should alloy our stern resentment,
And so I will be merciful-- say on!